Health · Healthcare & Policy · 6 hrs ago
Suffolk plan to overhaul children’s nursing services faces criticism
Suffolk County Council is considering major changes to its public health services for children and families.
The proposals cover health visiting, school nursing and support for young parents, and public feedback is open until 18 October.
Community staff nurses could be removed from health visiting, putting up to 49 jobs at risk, according to claims in local media reports.
School nursing could become a digital-first service available only during school terms, rather than year-round and open to all local children aged 5 to 19.
The council also proposes ending two support pathways for young parents, including a home-visiting programme for vulnerable first-time parents aged 21 or under, with current users’ care transferred to health visitors.
The council says the changes would make services more sustainable and focused on prevention and people with the greatest needs, while keeping all five required health and development reviews.
Nursing unions, some councillors and many consultation respondents have raised concerns about the effects on families and an already stretched workforce; the council says it will use consultation feedback to decide whether to proceed.
Suffolk County Council plans to overhaul its public health services for children, prompting criticism from nursing unions and some councillors.
Critics warn that the proposals could put up to 49 nursing jobs at risk.
The plan would remove community staff nurses from health visiting, shift school nursing to a digital-first, term-time model and close support pathways for young parents.
The council says the changes would make the service more sustainable and focused on prevention, early intervention and people with the greatest need.
Public feedback is open until 18 October, and the council says consultation responses will inform its final decision.
- Who
- Suffolk County Council, led by Reform UK, is proposing the changes. Nursing unions and some councillors have criticised the plans.
- What
- The council plans to overhaul children’s public health nursing services, including health visiting, school nursing and support for young parents.
- When
- The consultation is open until 18 October. The council discussed the service at a scrutiny committee meeting in September.
- Where
- Suffolk, England.
- Why
- The council cites underfunding and high demand, and says the changes would make the service more sustainable and focused on prevention and early intervention.
Suffolk County Council
Nursing unions and critical councillors
Service design
Suffolk County Council
The council says the proposed model would focus on prevention, safeguarding, school partnerships and people with the greatest need.
Nursing unions and critical councillors
Critics warn the changes could weaken services and put up to 49 nursing jobs at risk.
Access and staffing
Suffolk County Council
The council says all five mandated health and development reviews would continue, with stronger health visitor oversight.
Nursing unions and critical councillors
Critics raise concerns about removing community staff nurses and changing school nursing access.
We believe we need to reshape the service, so it remains sustainable and can focus on its core purpose of prevention, early intervention and supporting those with the greatest need.
Overall, it is proposed that the school nursing model would move from the current referral based, open access approach to a more targeted public health offer focused on prevention, safeguarding, school partnership working and the national high-impact areas.
Nursing staff with over 20 years’ experience will be lost
Suffolk County Council launched a consultation on a proposed new Healthy Child Service.
Councillors discussed the current service at the council’s education and children’s services scrutiny committee.
The consultation is due to close.
- Jobs at risk
- Up to 49 nursing jobs, according to critics’ claims cited in the article
- Consultation deadline
- 18 October
- Mandated reviews
- The council says all five health and development reviews would continue
- Family Nurse Partnership
- Provides home-visiting nurse support to up to 130 vulnerable first-time parents aged 21 or under
- Young parents pathway
- Provides support for first-time mothers aged 20 or below
Sources
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